Picture: The acting chairperson for North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development and Health Mmoloki Cwaile
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee for Social Development and Health said, there are structural challenges that need to be addressed at the embattled Bophelong Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng, North West. The committee visited the hospital on Monday after the video of newly-born babies being placed in cardboard boxes was circulated across social media platforms.
The incident took place on Saturday. The acting chairperson of the North West Portfolio Committee on Social Development and Health, Mmoloki Cwaile said, they were equally shocked to see newly-born babies being placed in cardboard boxes due to a shortage of cribs and incubators.
“Of course, we were equally shocked to learn that, the newly-born babies were placed in cardboard boxes, while others were sharing incubators and cribs. We have sought to have a critical meeting with all role players including management, nurses and unions. They have presented to us what are the challenges and is for that reason that we have encouraged the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha to interaction with his team at a level of management and labour organised unions.
“Importantly, we will have a clear view of what has transpired after our site inspection. Where we are, we have taken note of the multiplicity of problems that relate to the structures, human resources, personnel, and capacity of professional nurses. On the day of the incident, there were almost 57 neonates in the unit that is capacitated to accommodate only 25,” Cwaile said.
He further said, this has been a trend for some time and there were no available cribs and incubators. Cwaile added that, they have also realised that, there were challenges in relation to infrastructure.
“Even if you are getting more of what you need, but you will know that neonates are newly-born atleast up to six days. So, it is not our view that it will be possible to deliver the babies quickly and refer them to another facility without necessary observations.
“What we have realised is that there is a challenge of infrastructure, shortage of professional nurses and midwives, especially those who are well-trained on neonates. So, we believe that the outcome of the investigations should not be punitive, but to deal with all challenges inclusively,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said: “I am satisfied with the progress registered. Firstly, with the team that is conducting the investigation into the incident. Secondly, I believe that my meeting with union leaders yesterday paved the way for implementing key interventions that will improve operations at the hospital.
“The meeting acknowledged challenges that contributed to the situation as systemic and structural. For example, the issue of limited space in the hospital which I have already highlighted in the budget speech. I stated that, the hospital will be expanded with additional 100 beds and this was also acknowledged as a contributing factor and suggestions on other solutions were provided.”
Sambatha said, as part of further increasing space in the facility, the hospital management has already started engaging the provincial infrastructure to procure a park home, which will provide enough space for the neonatal unit. He said such a move should not mean a delay of additional 100 beds.
“The hospital had already advanced with the procurement of additional cribs and baby incubators. It was also acknowledged as a sign that the hospital had anticipated the need to address the challenge of space for newborn babies. The meeting emphasised the need to find solutions and stop pointing fingers at individuals.
“In that spirit, both the union leaders and I agreed that the suspension of the employees directly involved was not meant as a punitive measure, but a precautionary suspension. Not even I can conclude that the suspended employees are guilty without due process,” said Sambatha.
He said he has been consistent in saying that, the suspension was precautionary. Sambatha said a precautionary suspension is often given when the employer thinks the employees may interfere with an investigation because of them being directly implicated, but no one can say they are guilty when the investigation is still ongoing.
A consolidated hospital improvement plan is expected to be presented when the meeting is re-convene on Wednesday at the hospital.
The Guardian 